JODIE, CONSIDER YOURSELF HIRED!

IT was over when the fat lady sang.

Big Blackpool lass Jodie Prenger proved she was the people's favourite as she romped to victory in the tense I'd Do Anything finale.

She could be two Nancys!

After 12 turgid weeks of absurdly emotional girls tearfully pursuing a relatively minor role, the nation spoke - and Jodie's heartbroken rivals Jessie and Samantha were pipped at the post.

Of last night's two talent show spectaculars, the BBC was under no delusions as to where I'd Do Anything stood in the batting order - a very distant second.

Faced with being crushed by ITV's mighty Britain's Got Talent, the scared stiff state broadcaster didn't hesitate to move the conclusion of its dreary Oliver! commercial to the ridiculously early time slot of 6pm. Frankly, I'm glad it's over.

Host Graham Norton was wasted on this garbage. And his lordship Andrew Lloyd Weirdo's weekly "hardest decision I've ever made" was just tiresome.

It wasn't worth wasting money on a phone vote - the public had no say in who got to play the important parts of Oliver, Fagin, The Artful Dodger and Bill Sykes.

As ratings fell, the whole meaningless charade felt like a shameless chicanery.

While the punters decide on something not very crucial, producer Cameron Mackintosh sells zillions of tickets through the magic of the Beeb's free advertising service.

That could be unfair. But hey - that's showbiz!

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